Embodying Peace: Remember, Repair, and Reconnect
Summary
### Summary
Good morning, beautiful people. Today, we gather to explore the theme of peace in a world that often feels devoid of it. We began by praying for the cessation of violent rhetoric and actions, recognizing that peace cannot be achieved through violence. We prayed for healing and reconciliation, acknowledging that Christ has already made the way for peace.
This week has been anything but peaceful, marked by jurisdictional conference tensions and personal grief. Yet, in the midst of these challenges, we are reminded of the importance of peace. The passage of Scripture we focused on today speaks to the deep-seated rivalries between Jews and Gentiles, and how Jesus came to bring peace. Three key words emerged from this reflection: remember, repair, and religion.
First, we must remember our own experiences of being outsiders and our capacity for sin. This remembrance fosters empathy and understanding. Second, Jesus came to repair our broken relationships with God, ourselves, and others. This process of repair often involves breaking down walls of hostility and interrupting cycles of violence. Finally, we are called to be "religioned"—reconnected and rebuilt into a spiritual temple, embodying peace in our interactions and relationships.
The story of Dr. Pumla Gobodo-Madikizela, a psychologist who served on South Africa's Truth and Reconciliation Commission, illustrates this process of peace. Her interactions with Eugene de Kook, a former death squad leader, show how forgiveness and understanding can break down walls of hostility and lead to genuine reconciliation.
As we leave today, let us commit to being agents of peace, practicing empathy, and working towards reconciliation in our daily lives. May we embody the peace of Christ and spread it throughout our world.
### Key Takeaways
1. Remembering Our Own Brokenness: We must remember our own experiences of being outsiders and our capacity for sin. This remembrance fosters empathy and understanding, allowing us to see others through the lens of our shared humanity. By acknowledging our own brokenness, we can better understand and connect with those around us. [58:24]
2. The Process of Repair: Jesus came to repair our broken relationships with God, ourselves, and others. This process often involves breaking down walls of hostility and interrupting cycles of violence. Repairing relationships is not a one-time event but an ongoing process that requires our active participation. [01:00:01]
3. Breaking Down Walls of Hostility: To achieve peace, we must allow Christ to break down the walls of hostility around our hearts. These walls often manifest as righteous indignation, hatred, or a sense of victimhood. Breaking them down is painful but necessary for genuine reconciliation and peace. [01:01:37]
4. Interrupting the Cycle of Violence: Jesus' death broke the cycle of sin, violence, vengeance, and death, replacing it with a cycle of righteousness and peace. This new cycle requires us to put our relationships and priorities in right order, striving for wholeness and well-being for everyone. [01:03:25]
5. Being "Religioned": The concept of being "religioned" means being reconnected and rebuilt into a spiritual temple. This involves seeing each other as human beings, breaking down walls of hostility, and working towards peace and reconciliation. We are called to embody this peace in our daily interactions. [01:06:47]
### YouTube Chapters
[0:00] - Welcome
[11:04] - Prayer for Peace
[12:15] - Reflection on Violence and Healing
[50:42] - Jurisdictional Conference Tensions
[55:34] - Personal Grief and Scripture Reflection
[58:24] - Remembering Our Own Brokenness
[01:00:01] - The Process of Repair
[01:01:37] - Breaking Down Walls of Hostility
[01:03:25] - Interrupting the Cycle of Violence
[01:06:47] - Being "Religioned"
[01:08:38] - Story of Dr. Pumla Gobodo-Madikizela
[01:19:12] - Closing Prayer and Fellowship Invitation
Study Guide
### Bible Study Discussion Guide
#### Bible Reading
1. Ephesians 2:11-22 (NIV)
> "Therefore, remember that formerly you who are Gentiles by birth and called 'uncircumcised' by those who call themselves 'the circumcision' (which is done in the body by human hands)—remember that at that time you were separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For he himself is our peace, who has made the two groups one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, by setting aside in his flesh the law with its commands and regulations. His purpose was to create in himself one new humanity out of the two, thus making peace, and in one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility. He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near. For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit. Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people and also members of his household, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit."
#### Observation Questions
1. What are the three key words mentioned in the sermon that relate to achieving peace? ([58:24])
2. How does the sermon describe the process of repairing relationships? ([01:00:01])
3. What does the term "religioned" mean according to the sermon? ([01:06:47])
4. What example from the sermon illustrates the breaking down of walls of hostility? ([01:08:38])
#### Interpretation Questions
1. How does remembering our own brokenness help us foster empathy and understanding towards others? ([58:24])
2. In what ways does Jesus' death interrupt the cycle of violence and replace it with a cycle of righteousness and peace? ([01:03:25])
3. What does it mean to be "religioned" and how does this concept help us in our daily interactions and relationships? ([01:06:47])
4. How does the story of Dr. Pumla Gobodo-Madikizela and Eugene de Kook illustrate the process of peace and reconciliation? ([01:08:38])
#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on a time when you felt like an outsider. How did that experience shape your empathy towards others who might feel the same way? ([58:24])
2. Think of a relationship in your life that needs repair. What steps can you take to break down walls of hostility and work towards reconciliation? ([01:00:01])
3. Identify a situation where you have felt righteous indignation or hatred. How can you allow Christ to break down these walls in your heart? ([01:01:37])
4. How can you actively participate in interrupting cycles of violence in your community or personal relationships? ([01:03:25])
5. What does being "religioned" look like in your daily life? How can you embody this concept in your interactions with others? ([01:06:47])
6. How can you practice forgiveness and understanding in a difficult relationship, similar to Dr. Pumla Gobodo-Madikizela's approach with Eugene de Kook? ([01:08:38])
7. Commit to one specific action this week that will help you be an agent of peace in your community. What will it be and how do you plan to carry it out? ([01:19:12])
Devotional
Day 1: Remembering Our Own Brokenness
We must remember our own experiences of being outsiders and our capacity for sin. This remembrance fosters empathy and understanding, allowing us to see others through the lens of our shared humanity. By acknowledging our own brokenness, we can better understand and connect with those around us. This act of remembering is not about dwelling on past mistakes but about recognizing our shared human condition. It helps us to cultivate a heart of compassion and humility, which are essential for building genuine relationships and fostering peace. [58:24]
Ephesians 2:12-13 (ESV): "Remember that you were at that time separated from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ."
Reflection: Think of a time when you felt like an outsider. How can this memory help you empathize with someone who feels excluded today?
Day 2: The Process of Repair
Jesus came to repair our broken relationships with God, ourselves, and others. This process often involves breaking down walls of hostility and interrupting cycles of violence. Repairing relationships is not a one-time event but an ongoing process that requires our active participation. It involves recognizing the barriers we have built, whether they are emotional, psychological, or spiritual, and allowing Christ to dismantle them. This process of repair is a journey of healing and reconciliation, where we actively seek to restore what has been broken. [01:00:01]
Colossians 1:20 (ESV): "And through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross."
Reflection: Identify a relationship in your life that needs repair. What steps can you take today to begin the process of reconciliation?
Day 3: Breaking Down Walls of Hostility
To achieve peace, we must allow Christ to break down the walls of hostility around our hearts. These walls often manifest as righteous indignation, hatred, or a sense of victimhood. Breaking them down is painful but necessary for genuine reconciliation and peace. It requires us to confront our own prejudices and biases, and to open our hearts to the transformative power of Christ's love. This act of breaking down walls is a courageous step towards healing and unity, where we move beyond our differences and embrace our shared humanity. [01:01:37]
Ephesians 2:14 (ESV): "For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility."
Reflection: What walls of hostility have you built in your heart? How can you invite Christ to help you break them down today?
Day 4: Interrupting the Cycle of Violence
Jesus' death broke the cycle of sin, violence, vengeance, and death, replacing it with a cycle of righteousness and peace. This new cycle requires us to put our relationships and priorities in right order, striving for wholeness and well-being for everyone. It calls us to reject the patterns of retaliation and embrace a life of forgiveness and grace. By interrupting the cycle of violence, we become agents of peace, actively working to create a world where love and justice prevail. [01:03:25]
Romans 12:17-18 (ESV): "Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all."
Reflection: Reflect on a situation where you are tempted to retaliate. How can you choose a path of peace and forgiveness instead?
Day 5: Being "Religioned"
The concept of being "religioned" means being reconnected and rebuilt into a spiritual temple. This involves seeing each other as human beings, breaking down walls of hostility, and working towards peace and reconciliation. We are called to embody this peace in our daily interactions, becoming living examples of Christ's love and grace. Being "religioned" is about living out our faith in tangible ways, where our actions reflect the peace and unity that Christ has brought into our lives. [01:06:47]
1 Peter 2:5 (ESV): "You yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ."
Reflection: How can you embody the peace of Christ in your interactions today? What practical steps can you take to be a living example of His love and grace?
Quotes
### Quotes for Outreach
1. "Remembering times when we weren't at peace with another person, remembering times when we were othered, when we were not seen as part of the in-group, remembering times when we participated in an act of violence, whether that was words or, you know, other ways of being violent. So, remembering, it's a matter of remembering who we are as God's children, but also remembering who we are as people who are capable of sin, of evil." [58:24] (35 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "Jesus came to repair those relationships. To repair our relationship with God. Sometimes it's called reconciliation, but I love the word repair because repair looks at that break in relationship as a wound instead of as, you know, something to be judged. It's something to be healed." [01:00:01] (23 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "When Jesus died, he completely broke that cycle of violence, because there was sin, and there was violence, and there was no vengeance. In fact, his death actually led to life. And so, he invites us to a different kind of cycle, a cycle of sin and violence, and then what he calls, or what the Scripture in Ephesians especially calls righteousness, and then peace." [01:03:25] (35 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "One of the things I love about United Methodist theology is that we believe salvation is a process, that yes, God loves us even before we know who God is. And we call that prevenient grace. It's why we baptize babies. And then there's a moment in our lives when we're like, oh my gosh, Jesus loves me. I can be repaired. My heart can be set free." [01:05:13] (28 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "When you break the word down into its Latin roots, re-meaning, again, right, and legate, there, meaning to bind or to connect, it means reconnecting the body, putting things together again. And that's what those final verses are talking about, is that, you know, there was a temple that Gentiles were not allowed into that, by the way, was destroyed in AD 70 and has not been rebuilt." [01:06:47] (32 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
### Quotes for Members
1. "We can't achieve peace through violence. It will never work. so I know, even as your heart is breaking, our heart joins yours, in longing that your presence would come into our country, and would allow us to sense that peace, and to practice that peace. So that one day we would honor one another, even in our differences." [12:15] (32 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "And so, you know, there was tension in the room, but there was respect, you know? Everyone was, you know, we were expressing our different opinions and yet there was a sense of trying to listen to one another. And there was a turning point when someone said to West Virginia, I mean to New England, will this work for you? And they stopped. And they said, did you just ask us if that will work? And we said yes." [54:56] (32 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "And so, breaking it down is painful. And yet, until we allow Jesus to do that work of helping us to see what needs to be taken apart in our own lives, we're never going to get to that place of repair. And so, that's an important piece of it, allowing Christ to break down those walls of hostility in our hearts." [01:01:37] (25 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "And so, Jesus' death interrupted that cycle, and instead replaced it with a new one. But that requires us to work, that process of peace. Yes, Jesus brought peace, but we have to participate in that process, and we have to practice it." [01:03:25] (20 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "And when we know and remember who we are and who we could be, we find this taste of peace. And it's something that is just going to be living into. We're never going to get to it until Christ comes again. But it's something that we get to experience, just a little taste, and that makes all the difference in the world." [01:08:38] (25 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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